OT: Homeschooling for the Summer?

[aes74]

I have mulled over the idea of homeschooling for the past year. My daughter, however, is in a fabulous magnet school, and I am not ready to pull her out yet. She was in a combined first and second grade last year, so although she is going into second grade next year (we switched schools), she has already done a lot of 2nd grade work. I also have a 3 year old at home.

I would like to continue her education for just a small portion of the day over the summer. I would also like to work on some preK skills with the little one. Does anyone have any suggestions? Does anyone do this already? What materials would you recommend? Any other tips? Field trips you make?

Thank you!

 

[Micka Mouse]

I have mulled over the idea of homeschooling for the past year. My daughter, however, is in a fabulous magnet school, and I am not ready to pull her out yet. She was in a combined first and second grade last year, so although she is going into second grade next year (we switched schools), she has already done a lot of 2nd grade work. I also have a 3 year old at home.

I would like to continue her education for just a small portion of the day over the summer.
Thank you!

Your daughter is on a second grade level and will be entering second grade in the fall? She's right on target!!! I think it's fantastic that you want to work with your girls over the summer (the parents in my district would laugh if I gave them "work" to help their kids over the summer; most of them don't even bother with the reading log.). I don't have any experience homeschooling, sorry . Just thought I'd BUMP for you!

 

[Heluvsme]

I homeschool one of my children (7 years old) and one of my children (10 years old) attends a public school. I do homeschool "lightly" over the summer and my 10 year old also keeps her skills up....meaning I give her reading assignments (she loves to read, this isn't torture I promise, LOL!) and she participates in the fun science and cooking projects my son and I do for homeschooling.

I love to use Five In A Row, it's a great supplement, and seems to be just right for the lighter schedule over the summer. It's a curriculum based around books. Each week you have a book....they have a wonderful list prepared already. On Monday you might do a spelling and math assignment related to that book, for instance, Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel. Then on Tuesday you read the book again and do a science project related to it, they provide all the lessons and ideas you need by the way. Then on Wednesday it might be a civics lesson and a history lesson related to Mike Mulligan. And so on. It's so easy, so much fun, and doesn't feel like work at all!! We also take field trips over the summer and try to incorporate lessons into them.

Go to FIAR's web site, it's a lot of fun, extremely affordable ($20 I think for a whole semester's lesson plans!).

 

[fan_of_small_world]

I don't have any advice, but I've been thinking about doing some school work with DS and DD over the summer, too. I always encourage learning, reading, etc., and I try to find the "teachable moments" in everything we do. But, I want to do something a bit more formal this summer for them. I don't hadn't planned on following a structured plan like FIAR, but it looks interesting!

DS is entering 3rd grade next year, and I want to focus on math facts. We do Everyday Math in our district, which works very well for him. But I want to make sure the addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts are down pat. For DD, who will be starting kindergarten, we'll be focusing on reading and math basics.

I also plan on some science projects, cooking (great for organization and math skills!), and several day trips. For the "field trips" I'm planning to coordinate with another family. It's so much more fun for the kids (and us moms, too!) to go with friends.

 

[MinnieGi]

I homeschool one of my children (7 years old) and one of my children (10 years old) attends a public school. I do homeschool "lightly" over the summer and my 10 year old also keeps her skills up....meaning I give her reading assignments (she loves to read, this isn't torture I promise, LOL!) and she participates in the fun science and cooking projects my son and I do for homeschooling.

I love to use Five In A Row, it's a great supplement, and seems to be just right for the lighter schedule over the summer. It's a curriculum based around books. Each week you have a book....they have a wonderful list prepared already. On Monday you might do a spelling and math assignment related to that book, for instance, Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel. Then on Tuesday you read the book again and do a science project related to it, they provide all the lessons and ideas you need by the way. Then on Wednesday it might be a civics lesson and a history lesson related to Mike Mulligan. And so on. It's so easy, so much fun, and doesn't feel like work at all!! We also take field trips over the summer and try to incorporate lessons into them.

Go to FIAR's web site, it's a lot of fun, extremely affordable ($20 I think for a whole semester's lesson plans!).

That sounds like a great summer curriculum. I would also like to work with my DD on keeping up all her great reading skills she learned in kindergarten. I might look into that. She cannot stand to do any workbook type activities, but loves theme based hands-on activities that allow her to use her creativity. Thanks.

 

[mlraabe]

Ask your child's teacher. In our district we provide parents with summer work through third grade. It is usually literacy based. We hand out calendars with three months of activities on them - keeping a journal, writing and reading assignments, sight word practice. It comes with a packet of the activities and ideas. Most of the activites are hands on and interactive - not paper pencil. This goes out to our K4(preschool through 3rd grade.) It is not required to complete but most of the younger students do it. They get prizes in the fall. My 3 year old class will be getting one this summer too! So maybe the teacher will have some ideas for you.

 

[tacomaranch]

We have been doing ABA for my DS for the past year. Last summer he did 8 hours a day and this summer we are just doing 1 hour. The programs are straight discreet trials and also some work books like pre-writing skills, write numbers, count and circle and what ever else I can find. DS just turned 4 last month but has autsim.

Last summer he went from 13 words to completely verbal! He is in the 25% now of the normal children and if he were to be tested he would not be offered special services for language, but he does for the autism!

I love ABA.

 

[aes74]

We have been doing ABA for my DS for the past year. Last summer he did 8 hours a day and this summer we are just doing 1 hour. The programs are straight discreet trials and also some work books like pre-writing skills, write numbers, count and circle and what ever else I can find. DS just turned 4 last month but has autsim.

Last summer he went from 13 words to completely verbal! He is in the 25% now of the normal children and if he were to be tested he would not be offered special services for language, but he does for the autism!

I love ABA.

Maybe this is a "duh" question, but what is ABA? Congratulations on your (and his) achievements! Terrific!

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I am going to look into all of this. My daughter just got her Stanford test scores back, and she did great in all the reading areas, but I would like her to improve in math. So, that is one area I definitely want to work on.

 

[aes74]

Hey, I just bought a Saxon math homeschool parent manual for the second grade level on ebay for $13.00! Especially good considering they are $60 retail!